Tests will help healing process, says India captain

CHENNAI (Reuters) - India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hopes the first test against England will help the country heal the scars of last month's militant attacks in Mumbai.

India was still shaken by the three days of carnage in the financial capital that killed at least 171 people, but Dhoni said the test, which begins on Thursday, would show life was returning to normal.

"The best thing that I could give to India in this juncture is a good game of cricket. That is what we are here to do as professional cricketers," Dhoni said on Wednesday in his first news conference since the attacks.

"When it happened we were so sad. We were glued to the television. In that 70 hours or so, I really slept for just six hours."

England returned to India for the two-test series on Monday after security experts were satisfied with the measures put in place for the two test matches, which were switched to Chennai from Ahmedabad and to Mohali (Dec. 19-23) from Mumbai.

Some 3,000 police and soldiers have been deployed for player safety.

GRATEFUL

India had led last month's one-day series against England 5-0 before the last two matches were cancelled following the attacks and the tourists returned home.

"It is good on their part to come. For England coming ?-- I am grateful to them," the India captain added.

India have yet to name their final 11 but batsman Yuvraj Singh, who scored back-to-back centuries in the one-day series, looks set to take the middle-order spot vacated by the retired Saurav Ganguly.

England, who were training in Abu Dhabi before the decision to resume the tour was taken, were itching for the tests to begin, said captain Kevin Pietersen.

"We just want to go out there and play cricket now," he told a news conference.

"The boys are so excited now about playing. We hopped on a plane in Abu Dhabi and came here because the boys love playing cricket in India."

England have handed off-spinner Graeme Swann his test debut, a decision Pietersen said was taken due to the pitch.

"It's a decision we've come to because we think it (pitch) will spin. We think he's the best and most attacking option," he added.

"We know the Indians are not bad players of spin. But no matter how good you are, you still have to play well on the day. He'll be right at the Indian batsmen.

"We've changed the 'keeper because we feel Matty Prior is a better option with the bat. He's also improved his keeping," Pietersen added.

England's six-wicket defeat in the first Test against India in Chennai was compounded Wednesday by the team being fined for a slow over-rate by the International Cricket Council.
Kevin Pietersen's side were ruled by match referee Jeff Crowe, the former New Zealand batsman, to have fallen one over short of their target.

MOHALI, India (Reuters) - Kevin Pietersen believes his first major away tour as England captain would help him mould the team with a demanding 2009 season ahead.
England ended the India tour without a win after challenges on and off the pitch, following the drawn second test in Mohali on Tuesday.

MOHALI, India (Reuters) - Unpredictable weather prevented India setting England a meaningful victory target in the second test, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after it ended in a tame draw on the final day on Tuesday.
India won the two-match series 1-0 after they claimed the first test in Chennai by six wickets having achieved a memorable fourth innings target of 387 runs.

MOHALI, India (Reuters) - England skipper Kevin Pietersen praised his team's grit and individual efforts despite their test series defeat in India on Tuesday.
India clinched the two-test series 1-0 after the second test ended in a tame draw on the final day in Mohali.

Following their 1-0 series win over England at home, India have moved to the second spot in the ICC Test rankings.
India briefly lost the spot to South Africa who had defeated Australia at Perth to move to the second position.